You said it correctly. If the ding is elusive, then pay the $$$ for max, keeping in mind that you can increase max. spin...stop and drop by getting higher spin clubs. I started using the Nike Platinum for warm up and alt. because it's so much fun to explore the infinite variations you get with 5 spin, and then the max for final rounds because you can almost always ping it. I always know where and how far it's going so that it ends up in short birdie range on 80% of shots approx.10 -12 feet or less, sometimes there are many tap ins.
But now that I've just about learned the Platinum, I am beginning to use in tourneys with excellent results and superior feel factor.
But on a bad ping day I use the max. I keep a sleeve in stock just in case.